Counterhoop



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Filed Feb. 28, 1955 ATTORNEYS States Patent` O COUNTERHOOP Henry H. Slingerland, Jr., Wilmette, Ill.

Application February 28, 1955, Serial No. 490,797

1 Claim. (Cl. 84-411) This invention relates to a counterhoop for drums and, in particular, to a counterhoop having an inturned end flange.

In the construction of drums such as snare drums, tom toms, and parade drums, a cylindrical shell of a rigid material is provided. A head is stretched lacross the open end of the shell and is secured, generally by wrapping, to a hoop, commonly called a flesh hoop. The flesh hoop in turn is secured to the shell by a second hoop commonly called a counterhoop, the counterhoop being secured to the shell by means of suitable holding means.

Counterhoops presently found in the art have serious disadvantages; in one form, the outer end or upstanding portion presents a relatively sharp edge which causes nicking and similar damages to the drumstick when it is struck thereagainst either intentionally or unintentionally. To overcome this disadvantage another form of counterhoop is provided having -a rolled or beaded end portion. It has been found, however, that such beaded construction produces concavities wherein acids may collect during the plating operation, causing subsequent blistering and distortion of the counterhoop surfaces. Still another form of counterhoop is utilized wherein the outer end is formed to project generally radially outwardly; such construction, however, allows inadvertent damage to the drumstick by its being struck against the outer relatively sharp end and limits access to the counterhoop securing studs rendering adjustment of the head tension more dillicult.

The principal feature of this invention is the provision of a new and improved counterhoop for drums.

A further feature is the provision of an annular counterhoop having an inturned outer flanged end arranged to provide a drumstick striking surface particularly designed to avoid damage to the stick.

A yet further feature is the provision of such a counterhoop having a longitudinal portion with an inturned flanged end extending at an angle of not less than 90 to the longitudinal portion to preclude the collection of liquids such as acids thereon during manufacture.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a counterhoop having an inwardly flanged end adapted to provide increased rigidity while allowing ready access to the space radially outwardly of the counterhoop so that head tensioning means and the counterhoop securing means may be readily adjusted. A still another feature is that said llanged end extends inwardly a distance generally equal to the longitudinal portion thickness.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a drum provided with a counterhoop embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross Sectional View of the counterhoop taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. l; and

p 2,779,227 Patented Jan. 22,?51'957 Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the counterhoop installed on a drum.

Referring now to the drawings, a hoop designated generally as 10 and embodying my invention is shown mounted on a drum comprising a cylindrical shell 15 having a head 16 secured to the shell by an annular flesh hoop 17. Peripherally spaced on the outer side of the shell are a plurality of counterhoop holding brackets 18 having studs 18a arranged for securing the counterhoop.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, my counterhoop is seen to comprise an annular member having a longitudinally extending body portion 11. Depending from portion 11 is L-shaped skirt 12 including a radially outwardly extending portion 12a and a longitudinally extending portion 12b, said portions 12a and 12b forming a two-sided enclosure adapted to engage the flesh hoop 17 and the head portion wrapped therearound and hold them tightly against the end of the shell 15.

Extending generally radially inwardly from the outer end of counterhoop body portion 11 is a flange end 13. End 13 is preferably spun from the outer end of body portion 11 and is provided with a smooth outer edge 13a, a flat drumstick striking surface 13b extending angularly inwardly and a blunt inner edge 13C. Surface 13b is intermediate and contiguous with the rounded edges 13a and 13e so that all sharp drumstick damaging edges are eliminated. The slope of surface 13b relative to the axis of the counterhoop is made such that the surface extends generally parallel to a drumstick in the normal drum or counterhoop striking position. The drumstick in contacting surface 13b is `thus normally disposed parallel thereto and maximum area of contact therebetween is had; an angular variation from the parallel relationship results in a lessening of this contact area but the contiguous surfaces of smooth edge 13a and blunt edge 13b also provide broad areas of Contact preventing the knife-type nicking caused by the sharp edges of the counterhoops in the art.

Flanged end 13 is arranged to extend generally radially inwardly and is provided with a generally planar inner surface 13d extending preferably `at an angle of at least relative to body portion 11. Such construction prevents the collection of acids and similar liquids between the flanged en-d 13 and the body portion 11 during the manufacturing operations, eliminating this source of Waste and damage.

At spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the holding brackets 18, the radial portion 12a of the skirt is provided with holes 12a` through which the studs 18a are passed. Nuts 18b are then threadedly mounted on the studs and tightened so as to act against portion 12a and pull the counterhoop toward the brackets 18, thereby firmly securing the skin hoop 17 within the L-shaped portion 12 and stretching the head 16 over the end of shell 1S. To accommodate the holes 12e, the radial portion 12a is enlarged radially outwardly at these points. As the flanged end 13 projects inwardly, ready access may be had to the studs for installing and adjusting the nuts.

My counterhoop provides means for securing the hoop to the shell, being provided with a flanged outer end particularly adapted for striking by a drumstick and providing increased rigidity to the longitudinally extending portion of the counterhoop while allowing ready access to the counterhoop securing means.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understod that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Iclaim: K

In a drum having a shell and a head, a counterhoop of the character described, comprising: an annular ring having a portion positioned outwardly of said shell: for holding said head under tension on the shel1,la portion extending upwardly beyond the surface of said head, forming a rim therear'ound, and an inwardly directed ange portion around the top of said upwardly extending portion and overlying the head inwardly of said shell, said ange portion having a smoothy outer edge, an intermediate planar surface an'd a blunt inner edge adapted References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Horak Feb. 9, 1937 Cordes Oct. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS France nn s Sept. 12, 1949 

